Senior Mine Geologist

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and is a member of the Russell 2000. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 124-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 800 diversified products to customers across our end markets.

U.S. Silica's wholly-owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company has 26 operating mines and processing facilities and two additional exploration stage properties across the United States and is headquartered in Katy, Texas.

The Senior Mine Geologist will be based in the Reno, NV area to easily support most of US Silica's six (6) Diatomite and one (1) perlite mines though travel to other sand, clay, and aplite mines in the network will be required as needed. The position will report directly to the Mine Geology & Exploration Manager.

The primary responsibilities of this role are to critically evaluate the company's resource and ore reserve portfolio. Compilation of geologic data will be used to rebuild Geologic Block Models (BM) for resource and ore reserve classification and calculation in order to support the Mine Planning process. This will involve collection of geologic and ore quality data from drilling programs and mapping efforts ranging from near-mine to grassroots exploration. This role will actively manage, implement and optimize the various resource geology tasks that will support our operating mine sites. The role is envisioned as a strong field resource that will provide proactive and practical support to the Mine Planning and Mine Operations teams. The successful candidate will utilize skills and past experiences to drive positive change, add value and help develop Mining & Geology as Core Competencies for US Silica Company.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct geological mapping and sampling as needed to provide practical guidance on grade control and structural / ground control conditions to the site Operations Team. This information will feed the new Resource Block Models.

• Design, implement, and supervise drill programs; both property-scale exploration drilling and in-pit detailed bench / ore control drilling; conduct core logging and sampling as required

• Identify mine ore grade quality and ore recovery issues related to geology help develop practical mining improvements through collaboration with site Operations and Mine Planning personnel

• Prioritize mine safety through clear in-field communications with the Mine Site Operations Team to allow real-time optimization of mining activities, improving mine execution and feed quality delivered to the process plants

• Provide technical expertise, guidance, and leadership in resource block modeling and ore reserve calculations

• Optimize and maintain drill hole database, reconcile historic and modern geologic mapping and other exploration records as needed to build sound models backed by geology and assay results

• Collaborate with members of the Mine Planning & Geology team to develop short and long-term mining plans that are optimized for ore grade and mine recovery

• Collaborate with the Mine Planning team to develop plans related to mining, stripping, tailings and reclamation projects, field and/or aerial surveys, permitting, etc.

• Manage project contractors and consultants when requested

• Assist with mineral deposit geology and property acquisition feasibility studies as needed.

• Participate on multi-discipline due diligence teams to review mine-related projects and help determine courses of action

• Assist with Annual Mine & Geology Department Budget preparation

• Provide coaching, training, and mentoring to Junior staff and help build a cross-functional technical workforce.

• Assist with Mining Team Calls - providing information on Best Practices, Mine Site Audits, Mine Site Showcase, Safety Focus topics, Mining CPT, etc.

• Help implement positive change and increase internal technical standards through Best Practice Sharing

• Willingness to complete drone pilot certification and operate USS drone for Mine Site and Field Project support when needed, collaborating with the Mine Planning Engineers

Required Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelors' Degree in Geology or Geological Engineering

• Minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience with at least 3-years in a mine operations/production environment

• Previous experience in Diatomite (DE), Industrial Sand, Frac Sand, Aplite, Clay deposit geology, exploration and ore reserve calculation is highly desired

• Must be technically adept and possess a strong aptitude for geologic block modeling, ore reserve calculation, mine exploration, drilling operations, grade control, geologic / structural mapping and mining methods. The role requires focused attention to detail and superior observational skills

• Demonstrated experience working with and managing drill programs, core and chip logging, sampling methods, tooling, and site reclamation

• The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record of working with multi-disciplinary teams to develop and optimize mining plans from exploration, to mine development and operations, through to final site reclamation.

• Good working knowledge of API specs and general geochemistry for grade control purposes

• Proficiency with Hexagon Mining (MineSight), SURPAC, Vulcan, Leapfrog, or other mining software is required

• Must have familiarity with ArcGIS, QGIS, CAD or other geospatial software

• Excellent project management and organizational skills

• Comfortable autonomously managing drill programs at various mine or exploration sites

• Enthusiasm, exceptional problem-solving abilities, personable, and a team player - building effective working relationships with internal and external customers

• Great listener and good communicator, and who works well with operations leadership as well as the hourly production team

Travel Requirements:

• Expect 25-30% travel required to assist in covering all active mine sites across the company network

U.S. Silica is an equal opportunity employer for all without regard to race, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. U.S. Silica is a smoke- and drug-free workplace. The above description is intended to capture the essential functions of the job, nature and level of work as of the preparation date. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties that may be required of the position. This job description may be modified at any time with or without notice.